Tunnelling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A tunnelling apparatus composed of a plurality of elongate planks arranged side-by-side on a circumferential path to form a shield of circular configuration. The planks are separated into two relatively movable groups with the individual members alternately staggered so that a member of one group is disposed between two members of another group. Each group of planks is supported on three axially spaced expandible ring devices used to selectively brace the planks against the tunnel wall. Rams are provided between the rear support device of one group and a central support device of the other group so that the groups can be alternately advanced with the planks of said one group forming a forward support and the planks of said other group forming a rear support. A frame rotatably supporting a drivable cutting head is slidably mounted on the support devices for the forward support and further rams are provided for advancing the frame and cutting head outwardly of the forward support.

United States Paten 1 1 Lobbe Apr. 2, 1974 [73] Assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia,

- Westfalia, Germany [22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 283,898

130] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. x, 1971 Germany 2144862 [52] US. Cl. 61/85, 61/42 [51] Int. Cl. E0lg 3/02 [58] Field'of Search 61/84, 85, 45 D, 45 R, 61/42; 299/31, 33

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,355,215 11/1967 Haspert et a1. 299/31 X 3,379,024 4/1968 Wohlmcyer 61/85 3,411,826 11/1968 Wallers ct 211.... 299/33 X 3,613,384 10/1971 Jacobs 61/85 3,672,726 6/1972 House 299/31 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,109,630 6/1961 Germany 61/45 D Primary ExaminerDennis L. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak [57] ABSTRACT A tunnelling apparatus composed of a plurality of elongate planks arranged sidc-by-side on a circumferential path to form a shield of circular configuration.

The planks are separated into two relatively movable groups with the individual members alternately staggered so that a member of one group is disposed between two members of another group. Each group of planks is supported on three axially spaced expandible 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAPR 2 I914 SHEET 1 [IF 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in driving underground tunnels and to a method of driving tunnels using such an apparatus. V

In the driving of underground tunnels it is known to support the wall surface of the tunnel at the head of the tunnel with a shield of circular configuration composed of a plurality of separate plank-like members. These members are carried on a frame and advanced individually by means of piston and cylinder units. At the front end of the shield is a cutting head which removes material from the face and at the rear end of the shield there are provided tunnel lining sections for permanently supporting the tunnel wall. Generally with such an apparatus the supporting and driving operations must be performed alternately and this consequently reduces the overall rate at which the tunnel can be driven.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for, and method of, driving tunnels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for use in driving underground tunnels; said apparatus including a shield wall with relatively movable components, each component being composed of a plurality of substantially parallel elongate members, wherein the elongate members of one wall component are interspersed with the elongate members of the other wall component and the elongate members of each wall component are supported by at least one device adapted to brace said members against the wall of a tunnel.

Further according to the invention there is provided a method of driving a tunnel comprising bracing a plurality of elongate members forming a rear shield wall component against the surface of the tunnel, advancing a further plurality of elongate members forming a complementary forward shield wall component longitudinally outwardly of said braced wall component, advancing a cutting appliance longitudinally outwardly from said further plurality of members to remove material from a face, bracing said further plurality of members against the surface of the tunnel, relieving said first-mentioned plurality of members from the surface of the tunnel drawing up the first-mentioned plurality of members between the further plurality of members and re-bracing said first-mentioned plurality of members against the surface of the tunnel.

Preferably the elongate members of the wall components are arranged to lie on a common circumferential path with each of at least some of the elongate members of one of the wall components being disposed between two of the elongate members of the other wall component. The members are thus alternately staggered in the circumferential direction and small gaps may be left between the sides of the individual members.

In accordance with the invention the wall components can be alternately advanced, while providing an adequate continuous shield, with each component being alternately braced against the tunnel wall to form a thrust abutment for the advance of the other component. The outer faces of the elongate members of one of the wall components may be disposed outwardly relative to the outer faces of the elongate members of the other forward wall components. This one component can then form the rear support of the shield which is alternately braced and moved up to the wall component forming the front support. I

In a preferred embodiment the elongate members of each wall component are supported on three support devices spaced apart axially of said members. Each support device may take the form of two half-rings interconnected by piston and cylinder units, operable to move the half-rings together or apart to thereby contract or expand the device to relieve or brace the members of the associated wall component. The devices may conveniently be arranged in pairs with each device associated with the elongate members of one of the wall components being located adjacent one of the devices associated with the elongate members of the other of the wall components.

So far as the actual elongate members is concerned preference is given to a design where each member has a trapezoidal cross-section with its greater width lying outermost. The front end of each member preferably has a knife-edge to assist in penetrating the layers of material around the tunnel wall.

Double-acting piston and cylinder units can be connected between the rear terminal support device of the rear wall'component and the central support device for the forward wall component. These units can then be used to effect relative movement between the wall components when one or other of the wall components is braced against the tunnel wall with its associated support devices.

The floor part of each wall component may be formed by a continuous arcuate section and the arcuate section of the rear component may be covered by a floor plate. A conveyor for removing the debris from the face can be installed inside the wall componentsto transfer material rearwardly.

The apparatus preferably has a cutting appliance with a frame supported for sliding within the forward wall component. For example, the frame has guide members which engage in recesses defined by brackets attached to the, or some of the, support devices for said forward wall component. Piston and cylinder units are preferably used for moving the frame and the units may comprise a group of units for advancing the frame and a group of units for retracting the frame. The retraction units preferably have some form of displaceable mounting so that they do not interfere with the advancing operation and the advancing units preferably have detachable connections enabling them to be disconnected and moved during any retraction operation. The advancing and retraction units are conveniently connectible between the frame and the rear support device of the rear wall component.

The cutting appliance may have a rotatable cutting head supported on the frame and composed of a number of radial arms each having removable end pieces supporting cutters. The head may be driven via motors and gearing carried by the frame and further piston and cylinder units, operable to align the head, may be connected between the support means for the head and the frame.

The invention may be understood more readily and various other features of the invention may become more apparent from consideration of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

F IG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an apparatus made in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a part sectional side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus, the view being taken along the line IlIlII of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus, the view being taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, the apparatus is composed of a multi-part outer wall 1, 2, having a cutting appliance 3 at its forward end, and accommodating therein, inter-alia, a conveyor 4. The multi-part wall 1, 2 is composed of two relatively movable component parts 1, 2; each part 1, 2 being in the form of a group of elongate parallel plank-like members 11, 12 respectively. The members 11, 12 are all arranged around a common circumferential path and evenly distributed thereabout with gaps 13 between the individual members 11, 12. The members 11, 12 are alternately staggered in a circumferential sense with each member 11 disposed between two of the members 12 and vice versa. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the outermost faces of the members 12 forming the rear wall component 2 are disposed slightly radially outwards from the outermost faces of the members 11 forming the forward wall component. The members 11, 12 can also be offset longitudinally (FIGS. 1 and 2) at certain operational stages so that the members 11, collectively constituting the forward wall component 1, are disposed forwardly of the members 12, collectively constituting the rear wall component 2. Each component 1, 2 is provided with an arcuate floor section 15 and the section 15 of the rear component 2 is covered by a base plate 16. The members 11, 12 are each of trapezoidal cross-section with a tapered knifeedge at its forward end. The members 11 are supported on three axially spaced expandible support devices 5, 6, 7 and similarly the members 12 are supported on three axially spaced expandible support devices 8, 9, 10. The devices -10 are arranged in pairs, 5, 8; 6, 9; 7, 10; as shown in FIG. 2.

Each device 5-10, is constructed as a pair of matching half-rings interconnected at their adjacent ends with piston and cylinder units 14. The units 14 can be operated to urge the ends of the half-rings apart or to draw these ends together. In this way the devices 5-10 can be contracted or expanded to brace the members 11, 12 against the surface of a tunnel.

Double-acting piston and cylinder units 17 are used to alternately advance the wall components 1, 2 in the direction of the working face 31 in front of the cutting appliance 3 as described hereinafter. The units 17 are pivotably attached between brackets 18, secured to the device 6, and the device 10.

The cutting appliance 3, which is designed to remove material from the face 31, is provided with a cutting locate within recesses defined by brackets 20 carried by the devices 5, 6. A plurality of piston and cylinder units 33 are pivotably connected between brackets 35 attached to the frame 22. The mountings of the units 33 are displaceable longitudinally and the units 33 are used to retract the frame 22 and thereby the cutting head 23 into the wall component 1. In addition, piston and cylinder units 29 are also connected between the device 10 and the frame 22. These units 29 have detachable plug-like end connections 30 enabling them to be removed from the device 10. The units 29 are used to advance the head 23 from the wall component 1 towards the face 31.

The head 23 is driven by means of motors 24 carried by the frame 22. The motors 24 are coupled to the head 23 via gearing 25 which meshes with a toothed ring. The head 23 has a number of radial arms 26 with removable end pieces 27 acting as holders for cutters 32. Means, in the form of piston and cylinder units 28, is provided for aligning the cutting head 23. The units 28 are connected between the support means for the head 23 and the frame 22. I

The operation of the apparatus is as follows Assume that the units 14 of the devices 8, 9, 10 are operated to expand the devices 8, 9, 10 and thereby brace the rear wall component 2 against the tunnel surface. The rear wall component 2 then forms an abutment whereby the forward wall component 1 can be advanced. To this end, the units 14 of the devices 5, 6, 7 are relieved and the units 17 and 29 are extended to advance the forward wall component 1 and the cutting appliance 3 towards the face 31. The head 23 is thus urged towards the face 31 and is operated by the motors24 to detach material from the face 31. This material is transferred rearwardly of the apparatus by the conveyor 4. When this advance is completed the units 14 of the devices 5, 6, 7 are operated to expand the devices 5, 6, 7 and brace the forward wall component 1 against the tunnel surface. The units 14 of the devices 8, 9, 10 can now be relieved and the units 17 operated to draw up the rear wall component 2 which is then re-braced. This cycle can then be repeated to progressively lengthen the tunnel.

From time to time it may be desirable to move the appliance 3 back into the wall component 1, as for example where some manual operation is to be effected on the face 31. In this event the units 29 are disconnected and moved into positions where they do not hinder the a machine which follows up the apparatus and runs on' a track laid in the tunnel. This machine may comprise means for installing tunnel lining sections end-to-end so as to provide a permanent support for the tunnel rearwardly of the apparatus. This rear machine may also be provided with a conveyor which receives material from the conveyor 4 and conveys such material rearwardly of the entire working.

I claim: 

1. An apparatus for use in driving underground tunnels, comprising: a shield having relatively movable wall components, each of said wall components comprising a plurality of substantially parallel elongate members with the members of one wall component being interspersed with the members of the other wall component, means for effecting relative movement between said wall components, and a plurality of devices for supporting the elongate members of each wall component and for selectively bracing the members of the associated wall component against the wall of the tunnel, the support devices being spaced apart axially of said members and arranged in pairs with each device associated with the members of one of the wall components being located adjacent one of the devices associated with the members of the other of the wall components.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein three support devices are provided for each wall component.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elongate members of the wall components are arranged to lie on a common circumferential path with each of at least some of the elongate members of one of tHe wall components being disposed between two of the elongate members of the other wall component.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer faces of the elongate members of a rear one of the wall components are disposed outwardly relative to the outer faces of the elongate members of the other forward wall components.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the elongate members is in the form of a plank with a tapered knife-edge at its forward end, each of the elongate members has a trapezoidal cross-section with its greater width disposed outermost.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for effective relative movement between the wall components is in the form of a plurality of double-acting piston and cylinder units each connected between the central support device for a forward wall component and a terminal support device for the other rear wall component.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cutting appliance with a frame which is supported for sliding on a forward one of the wall components.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the frame has guide members which engage in recesses defined by brackets attached to the or some of the, support devices for said forward wall components.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 7, and further comprising means for moving the frame relative to the forward wall component, said moving means comprising piston and cylinder units operably connected between the frame and a rear terminal support device for the other rear wall component.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein some of said units are operable to move the appliance outwardly relative to said forward wall component and the remainder of said units are operable to retract the appliance inwardly relative to said forward wall components, said remainder of the units having mountings displaceable longitudinally of the wall components and said some units being detachable and hence inoperative when said remainder of the units are to be operated.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cutting appliance has a rotatable cutting head supported by support means on said frame and drive means for the head carried on said frame.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein piston and cylinder units connected between support means for the head and the frame and operable to align said head.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the cutting head has a number of radial arms each having removable end pieces supporting cutters.
 14. An apparatus for use in driving underground tunnels, comprising: a shield having relatively movable wall components, each of said wall components comprising a plurality of substantially parallel elongate members with the members of one wall component being interspersed with the members of the other wall component, a plurality of devices for supporting the elongate members of each wall component, said devices being spaced apart axially of said members with each device being in the form of two half-rings interconnected at their facing ends by piston and cylinder units operable to move the half-rings to thereby expand or contract the device whereby to selectively brace the members of the associated wall component against the wall of the tunnel, and double acting rams coupled between two of the support devices associated with the two wall components for effecting relative movement between the wall components. 